Hasp-fastener.



No. 657,434. Patented Sept. 4, I900.

N MILAM 'HASP FASTENEB.

(Application filed Dec. 14, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES Artur CITE-ICE- NAT A MILAM, or GREENSBOROUGH, NORTHCAROLINA.

HASP-FALSTENER.

s mmation forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,434, dated September 4,1900.

Application filed December 14, 1899. Serial llo. 740,329. khlo model.) i

To 'o'rllwhom itmaj concern.-

Be it known that I, NATHAN MILAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Greensborough, in the county of Guilford and State of NorthCarolina, have invented a new and useful I-Iasp-Fastener, of which thefollowing is a specification. i

This invention relates to hasp-fasteners, and has for its object toprovide improved means for automatically securing the hasp or lookingmember to the staple or keeper while the former is being engaged withthe latter and which may be conveniently operated to release the hasp orlooking member when itis desired to remove the latter from the keeper.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consistsinthe combination and arrangementof parts, as will be hereinafter morefully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularlypointed out in the appended claim, it being understood that changes inthe form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within thescope of the appended claim with-, out departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 isa perspective view of a hasp-fastenerconstructed in accordor detent.

ance with the present invention. Fig. 2 isa transverse sectional Viewthereof. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the gravity latchCorresponding parts in theseveral figures of the drawings are designatedby like characters of reference. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1

designates the locking member, which is shown in the form of a flathasp, having its rear end connected to the door 2 by means of a staple3, so as toform a pivotal connection for the hasp. The opposite free endof the hasp overlaps the door-frame 4 at the free edge of the door andis provided with a 1ongitudinally-disposed slot or eye 5. At the freeextremityof the hasp thereis provided a transversely-disposed andoutwardly-directed lug or shoulder 6, forming a thumb-piece foroperating thehasp. Fitted to the doorframe 4 is the usual staple orkeeper 7, which is received through the slot or eye 5 in the. common orordinary manner. Instead of loosely connecting the hasp to the door themember.

latter.

' ter, as will be understood.

The foregoing-described parts may have any common or preferred form, andin carrying out the present invention there is provided a gravity latchor detent 8, having an enlarged and weighted lower end 9 and anoperating thumb-piece 10, located at the opposite upper end of thedetent and directed out wardly therefrom. Intermediate of the oppositeends of the detent and projecting rearwardly therefrom is a lug 11,provided with a central perforation 12,extendin g transversely of thedetent and forming a bearing-eye for pivotal connection with thehasporlocking In applying the detent 'to the hasp the latter is providedwith a transverse slot 13, extending from the upper edge of the haspandcommunicating With the longitudinal slot or eye 5 at an intermediatepoint thereof and forming asubstantially T-shaped slot. The bearing eyeor lug 11 of the detent is loosely received within the entranceslot 13and .pivotally mounted upona pivot-pin 14,

extendingjtransversely of the slot and in- I termediate of the endsthereof, so that. the

detent is mounted toswing in a plane at substantially right angles. tothat of the hasp. To facilitate the application of the latch or detent8, the bearing-eye 11 is formed by j means of a substantially U shapedclip, which is fitted t0 the pivot-pin 14 from the rear side of thehasp, the opposite ends of the clip being received Within perforationsformed in the detent, and the extremities of the clip are afterwardupset, so as to firmly connect the clip to the detent. As indicated inFig. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the gravity-detent 8 islocated upon the outer side of the hasp and extends transversely acrossthe slot or eye 5, the lower free extremity of the detent engagingagainst the outer side of the hasp, so as to prevent the former fromswinging into the slot.

During the applicationof the hasp to the keeper and while the latter isbeing received within the slot or .eye 5 said keeper engages the rearside of the detent and forces the latter upwardly until it clears theupper side of the keeper and automatically idrops into the It will beseen that the hasp cannot he accidentally removed from the keeper, as

an outward movement of the ,hasp will "erg gage he detest a i theieserasidm the longitudinal slot -and proirided with a rnive nin e tening mesverselyacros said the staple or keeper, thereby preventing entiredisengagement of the .hasp from the keeper; It ispreferableto enlargethe. lofwer free end of thedetent, so that the latter may q g ev tete'me he keep r the former becomes disengaged from the'lat'ter during theapplication of the hasp to the keeper. The staple or keeper 7normally-pro; jeets outwardly beyond the hasp'at asuitable distance topermit ofthe detent being swung upwardly by meansofi-the thumb;piece10,se'

' as to be situated abovethe staple and thereby permit of thedisengagement of the hasp,

r m he 'keepe' v What is claimed isa v I I a h w-fa ten r the mbinatienwth a Pivotal a p, av n a long tud a .0%, a

transverse entrance-slot 00min unieatingwith transverse slot andsupported by'the opposite walls thereof; of a staple-shaped keeper toproject through the longitudinal slot, and a gravitydetent, having itslower end enlarged g we ght d, nd ita. end-t Io wardly to form afinger-piece, and a substantiall Q-shaped clip to pivotally embrar'e the*pive. l-pi ayand having 'itsflopposit e endsconnected to the detent ata point intermediate of itsendsr E In testimony that Iplaimthe foregoingas g ,om l bareherqteafl y the presence of two witnesses.

IfIZATHAN" MILAM.

Witaeaes: v a

EDWAKD LAND, g t

signature in

